India and the United States are actively working to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in their proposed trade agreement, with both sides expressing optimism about finalising the pact within the next several weeks, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated on Wednesday.
Trade Talks in Final Stages
Speaking at the Citi 2026 India Conference, Gor revealed that a US trade delegation is currently in India negotiating the agreement. He indicated that only a small portion of the discussions remains unresolved, describing it as a minor hurdle. According to a report by PTI, Gor remarked, "Once that trade deal is finalised...the interim trade deal was there in place. It is that one per cent that we are trying to get across the finish line. So the leaders can have a signing and put that in stone and in law." He added, "We are very hopeful that that will get accomplished over the next weeks, several weeks, but it's not going to be years. We are very close to getting that done."
Negotiations Underway in New Delhi
Gor's comments coincide with the start of a three-day round of talks between top negotiators from India and the US in New Delhi on Tuesday, aimed at finalising the details of the proposed interim trade agreement. The framework for the pact was established in February. The US delegation is led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch, while India's team is headed by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce.
Section 301 Investigations and Tariffs
Gor also addressed questions regarding the Office of the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) Section 301 investigations, which were launched in March covering 60 economies over concerns related to forced labour and excess industrial capacity. On June 2, the USTR released its findings on forced labour and proposed additional tariffs on imports from these 60 economies. Gor clarified that the tariffs announced by the US were not specifically targeting India. "These were tariffs that were applied to everybody, from the European Union to Canada to Mexico, to almost every other country in Asia, including Japan, South Korea," he explained.
Path to a Broader Trade Pact
The ongoing negotiations are focused on concluding an interim trade agreement, which is seen as a precursor to a more comprehensive trade deal that both countries are pursuing. Both sides are eager to finalise the interim pact soon, paving the way for enhanced bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
